Laura Tweedy
Laura specialises in all aspects of social housing including homelessness and anti-social behaviour; as well as property law including (residential and commercial), landlord and tenant (residential and business) and public law.
Prior to coming to the bar Laura tutored at Durham University in European Law and she continues to regularly lecture and advise.
She works with Arrival Education to support achievement and development for underprivileged children.
Practice Areas
Panels
- Case Analysis Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2007
Membership
- Property Bar Association
- Social Housing Law Association
- Housing Law Practitioners Association
Qualifications
- Bar Vocational Course
- Master of Jurisprudence (University of Durham, Ustinov College)
- LL.B hons (University of Durham, St Marys College)
4 Contributions by Laura Tweedy
PRACTICE NOTES
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts as Community Remedies: Local Authority Guidance on ASB Engagement, Drafting, Monitoring and Enforcement (England and Wales)
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
ASB is an umbrella term capturing everyday occurrences of crime, nuisance, disruption, disturbance, annoyance and disorder. It covers behaviours such as:
littering
vandalism
noise nuisance
loud music
aggressive dogs
abusive neighbours
Local authorities may need to respond to ASB in both housing and non-housing settings. In housing, a landlord might have to address issues between neighbours, members of the same household, or problems caused by uninvited visitors to estates. Outside a housing context, ASB can involve street drinking, gangs of youths and prostitution.
Reform of anti-social behaviour powers (2014)
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ABCPA 2014) obtained Royal Assent on 13 March 2014, overhauling the tools for tackling ASB. Its purpose was to streamline remedies and make processes simpler and more effective. In July 2014, the government issued statutory guidance, ‘Anti-social behaviour powers: statutory guidance for frontline professionals’, which is updated from time to time. In July 2022, the Home Office set out the Anti-social behaviour principles, developed by the Anti-social Behaviour Strategic Board, to outline a consistent approach to understanding and addressing ASB within local communities...
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
Anti-social Behaviour Civil Injunctions under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (England and Wales): tests, applicants, procedure, terms, breach and penalties
Reform of anti-social behaviour powers (2014)
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ABCPA 2014) overhauled the suite of tools for tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB). Its purpose was to bring remedies together and make their use more straightforward and effective. In July 2014 the government published new statutory guidance, Reform of anti-social behaviour powers: statutory guidance for frontline professionals.
Updated in August 2019;
Revised in January 2021 to reflect the Sentencing Code, introduced by the Sentencing Act 2020 (SA 2020), which repealed and replaced Part 2 of the ABCPA 2014;
Amended in June 2022 to include Expedited Public Spaces Protection Orders;
Refreshed in March 2023 to coincide with the launch of the ASB Action Plan and promote greater consistency in the use of powers and tools.
The opening section of the statutory guidance puts victims first, placing them at the centre of the response to anti-social behaviour; the second section concentrates on how local agencies should deploy the legal powers available to address anti-social behaviour...
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) post-conviction in England and Wales: Sentencing Code framework, CrimPR 2025 procedure, drafting terms, duration and review, variation and discharge, and breach
Reform of anti-social behaviour powers (2014)
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ABCPA 2014) overhauled the measures for tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB), seeking to bring remedies together and make their use simpler and more effective. In July 2014, the government released fresh statutory guidance, ‘Reform of anti-social behaviour powers: statutory guidance for frontline professionals’. That guidance was refreshed in August 2019 and again in January 2021 to incorporate the Sentencing Code, introduced by the Sentencing Act 2020 (SA 2020), which repealed and replaced ABCPA 2014, Pt 2, and it has been updated regularly since. The opening section of the statutory guidance prioritises victims, placing them at the heart of the response to ASB. Across the document there is a strong focus on ensuring the powers are deployed properly and in proportion to the particular conduct creating harm or nuisance. In July 2022, the Home Office set out the Anti-social behaviour principles, produced by the Anti-social Behaviour Strategic Board, to outline a consistent way of understanding and dealing with ASB in local communities. The network of formal powers available to police, local authorities and other agencies to address ASB is streamlined to...
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
Unlawful Eviction and Quiet Enjoyment in England and Wales: Civil Liability, Defences, Remedies and Damages under HA 1988 s 27-28 and PEA 1977, with Overlapping Torts
This Practice Note sets out clearly and clarifies precisely what amounts to unlawful eviction, when and how it can arise in a civil context, the civil remedies on hand and available, and any knock-on causes of action.
Unlawful eviction
Unlawful (or illegal) eviction is defined by the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 (PEA 1977) and constitutes a criminal offence in law. A claim for unlawful eviction occurs where a landlord, or any other individual, removes or seeks to remove a residential occupier from their home and occupation without using the lawfully prescribed process.
A ‘residential occupier’ means a person living in the premises as a residence, whether under a contract or by virtue of any enactment or rule of law that gives them a right to remain in occupation or limits another’s right to recover possession of the premises. This definition extends to tenants and licensees alike. It does not, however, include a contractual licensee whose licence has expired—R v Blankley [1979] Crim LR 166 (not reported by LexisNexis®) (decided under section 30 of the Rent Act 1965 (repealed)).
Has the occupier’s right to occupy the land been terminated?
For most people occupying land (including tenants and licensees), particular legal procedures are...
Local Government
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